Click on the image to view the April issue of Check In. This issue provides an update on Stage B development, the Airport Hub section contains news of our people and what’s happening in and around the airport.

The track circumnavigates the airport perimeter, which is approximately 5.75km. The scenic loop is popular for walkers and joggers, with great views of the hills behind the city, Tasman Bay, Rabbit Island and Monaco. The track affords great locations for aviation enthusiasts.

Click on the image to view the February issue of Check In. Check In is our Nelson Airport newsletter which provides an update on Stage B development, a glimpse of what’s to come and what will change on completion of the terminal build.

Click on the image to view Check In. Check In is our Nelson Airport newsletter which includes a video link for the dawn blessing, an update on our new terminal opening and some exciting news for Nelson Aviation College.

Following a dawn blessing at the site with local iwi, Airways board members joined airport staff, Nelson MP Nick Smith and regional mayors Richard Kempthorne and Rachel Reese for Thursday's official opening of the new control tower.

Take a look at the SnapIT time lapse camera tracking the progress of the tower and terminal.Follow the progress by clicking on the pale grey link below and dragging your cursor slowly from left to right to see the build from the start until today.

Returning with their heads held high and their necks laden with medals, the Nelson Special Olympics team arrived at Nelson airport to cheers. Most of the Nelson team showed off medals in a haul which included 28 gold, 16 silver and 22 bronze.

The last thing Abby Nalder expected when she stepped off her flight from Auckland was to be surrounded by cheering crowds.

But that is exactly what the 15-year-old Golden Bay local got when she became the Nelson Airport’s millionth customer in a year.

“I was a bit overwhelmed when I walked in.”

Abby had just returned from a family trip to Auckland and was presented with a prize pack – which included a bouquet of flowers and a chocolate cake. She will also be planning another trip with her mother to Wellington as return flights for two were also included in the prize.

Nelson Airport chief executive Rob Evans has been a man on a mission in reaching the goal of a million passengers in a year and trying to make Nelson the best regional airport in New Zealand.

“This milestone is of huge significance to us,” he says. “The continued exemplary service from our airline partners has created an environment of competition and choice that travellers have been lapping up.”

He says this growth re-enforces the need for the current Nelson Airport redevelopment. The first piles for the new Nelson Airport Terminal were put in place on Tuesday.

“We are excited that our customers will get to experience a state of the art Nelson Airport Terminal opening in early 2019.”

In the meantime, Abby will enjoy her trip to Wellington but she had to pass on the chocolate cake as she is gluten free.